The number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease is expected to double from 7 million in 2020 to 14 million by 2060, according to the CDC. However, advances in treatment options are giving more people hope in slowing the decline. Dr. Jon LaPook breaks it down.

Recent developments in Alzheimer's disease treatment have shown that intravenous antibody infusions can slow cognitive decline in patients with early symptoms by about 30% over 18 months. Ongoing research is also examining whether administering these treatments before symptoms appear could be even more effective, especially as brain changes can start years before diagnosis.

A clinical trial involving individuals with a rare genetic form of early onset Alzheimer's has demonstrated encouraging results, with participants remaining symptom-free beyond the typical age of onset. Additionally, new blood tests may soon allow for earlier and more accessible detection of Alzheimer's, potentially enabling preventive treatment in the future.

Advances in treatment in fight against Alzheimer's disease

Well, in this morning's health watch, we're looking at a message of hope in the growing battle against Alzheimer's disease. According to the CDC, the number of Americans with Alzheimer's is expected to double from almost 7 million in 2020 to 14 million by 2060. There is no cure, but chief medical correspondent, Dr. John LaPook, says he's optimistic about treatment options. Doctor, good morning. Look, when you say that you're hopeful, I pay attention. When you say that you're optimistic, everyone should pay attention. Yeah, these are exciting times. I'll tell you why. Because in the last couple of years, we've shown, you know amyloid, that gooey substance that sits on top of nerves in the brain and they stop nerves from talking with each other? Well, it turns out that there are antibodies you give people intravenously in an infusion that will take the amyloid away. And it's been shown over the last few years that if you give that to people with early cognitive impairment from Alzheimer's, you can slow the rate of decline by about 30% over 18 months. Doesn't stabilize it, doesn't reverse it, but it slows the decline, which can be a big thing. So now, of course, the next question is, well, what if you give medication to people before they get any symptoms? Because the brain changes start 10, 20 years before the first symptoms, the Alzheimer's. Now, you recently spoke with a man, Jake Heinrichs, who has the genes for early onset Alzheimer's. He's been in a clinical trial for over 10 years. Tell us about that. Yeah, so he has this mutated gene that in any one family, and it's less than 1% of all people with Alzheimer's who have a gene like this, will cause you to get Alzheimer's at a particular age. In his family, multiple family members would get Alzheimer's symptoms in their 40s and die in their 50s, okay? Jake Heinrichs, Broadway electrician, entered a trial at Washington University in St. Louis. And Randy Bateman, Dr. Randy Bateman, is running that trial, and it's an international trial. And they say, well, wait a second. We know within a family that people are going to get symptoms at this age, say around 45, okay? So they started giving medication, this antibody gobbling up medication, like more than 10 years ago in Jake's case. He got to the middle of his 40s, and he's feeling fine. Everybody in his family who had this gene, and he has the gene, were getting symptoms. He felt so optimistic that he and his wife, Rachel Chavkin, who's a terrific Broadway director, said, we're gonna have a kid. And they now have this beautiful four-year-old Sam who's crawling all over him and jumping on his bed. I mean, what a moment to have that kind of faith in this that says, I'm gonna have a kid. I mean, it's a beautiful story. So ultimately, at the end of the day, family history does play a role, right? If I look at my own family, we don't have a history of Alzheimer's in our family, but that doesn't mean I'm out of the woods. Right. Family history of Alzheimer's increases risk. I'm an internist, as you know, and gastroenterologist. I come up with this all the time. People come into my office and they say, I'm forgetting names, and I don't know, they're getting older. Rather than just writing it off now, I'm getting more aggressive and saying, maybe I'll send you if it seems like it's interfering with daily function, not just like we all do, we forget a name, I'm gonna send you for neurocognitive testing. And it turns out that you can do a brain scan that costs 5,000 bucks or more to see if there's amyloid in your brain. There's also now a simple blood test. So imagine in the future, once this plays out and we see whether it works in people without symptoms, you come into the doctor's office and just like they check your cholesterol, your blood sugar, they check this blood test to see if you are developing signs of Alzheimer's even without symptoms. And if you do, and if we prove that this treatment works in people without symptoms who don't have the genetic form, maybe you get some treatment and can prevent Alzheimer's. Wow. What remarkable news. Dr. John LePook, always good to see you, my friend. Happy New Year. Happy New Year. Thank you very much.

Two helicopters collided above Hammonton, New Jersey, and one person has died, officials say. CBS News' Elaine Quijano reports.

Hammonton

Helicopters collide in New Jersey

U.S. President Donald Trump is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida on Monday (December 29) as questions linger about the future of the U.S.-backed ceasefire in Gaza.

Palm Beach

Middle East Conflict

Trump and Netanyahu to meet in Florida to discuss Gaza ceasefire

In a new show of force, China has mobilized its navy, air force, and ground troops to simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island's key ports. The military drill comes on the heels of an $11bn US arms sale to Taipei.

Taipei City

China stages new military exercises around Taiwan

U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin truly want peace as he and Zelenskyy met in Florida. Some experts say Trump is 'delusional' if he truly thinks Putin wants peace.

Washington

Ukraine Invasion

Trump-Zelenskyy meeting ends with optimism but no deal

Although the U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine have been "100% agreed," they have a short expiration date, the Ukrainian president explained after revealing more details following his meeting with Trump on Sunday.

Florida

U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine set for 15 years, Zelenskyy says

China's military moved army, naval, air force and artillery units around Taiwan on December 29 for its "Justice Mission 2025" drills, as the island vowed to defend democracy and mobilized troops to rehearse repelling a potential Chinese attack.

China launches 'Justice Mission 2025' war games around Taiwan

President Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida on Sunday. Trump said he thinks both men are ready for peace.

Trump meets with Zelenskyy, insists Putin is ready for peace

Far-right politics have pushed further into the mainstream across much of Europe. Populist parties, even in opposition, are shaping national debates on migration and the economy. The trend reflects growing voter frustration over living costs, borders and political trust.

Berlin

Far-right politics gaining influence across Europe

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is set to discuss a new peace plan draft with U.S. President Trump in Florida on Sunday (December 28). However, fresh Russian attacks on Kyiv have left a third of the city without power, undermining local confidence.

Kyiv

Kyiv residents fear escalation amid Zelenskyy-Trump peace talks

A report has sought to catalogue some of the most significant extreme weather events of the year. UK charity Christian Aid found that heatwaves are pushing the limits of human adaptation, hurricanes and typhoons are breaking records, and droughts are devastating lives across the globe. It's all coming at a heavy financial cost.

Top 10 natural disasters cost over $120 billion in 2025, report says

Russia attacked Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine with hundreds of missiles and drones on Saturday, ahead of what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said would be a crucial meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to work out a plan to end nearly four years of war.

Russian drones, missiles pound Kyiv ahead of Zelenskiy-Trump meeting

French actor Brigitte Bardot has died aged 91, her foundation said on Sunday (December 28). She shot to international fame dancing the mambo barefoot in "And God Created Woman," her tousled hair and fierce energy radiating a sexual magnetism rarely before seen in mainstream cinema.

Saint-Tropez

Brigitte Bardot, France's 'legend of the century', has died

A ceasefire is now in place between Cambodia and Thailand after weeks of cross-border fighting. But with nearly a million civilians displaced and trust in short supply, the focus now is on whether the guns will stay silent.

Bangkok

Thailand and Cambodia agree on ceasefire to end weeks of deadly fighting

The storm that hit the Northeast this weekend dropped up to a foot of snow in some areas. New York City saw its highest level of snowfall in nearly four years, and the region's three major airports experienced significant delays and disruptions.

New York

Powerful winter storm brings heavy snow to Northeast

For approximately 10 hours Saturday, Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv with about 500 drones and 40 missiles. The attack comes one day before before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with President Trump in Mar-a-Lago. Elizabeth Palmer has the latest.

Russia launches massive attack on Ukraine ahead of Trump-Zelenskyy meeting

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met today in Halifax to discuss economic aid amid the Russia-Ukraine war. This comes ahead of Zelenskyy’s plans to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss a peace deal.

Halifax Regional Municipality

Canada announces $2.5B in aid for Ukraine

President Trump said Thursday's strikes on Nigeria targeting ISIS were set for Wednesday but were delayed to Christmas Day for symbolic reasons. Mr. Trump claimed the Nigerian government is failing to protect Christians.

Washington D.C.

Trump says timing of Christmas Day strikes in Nigeria was intentional

The latest attack comes as presidents Zelenskyy and Trump prepare to meet in Florida on Sunday amid ongoing efforts to end the war.

One dead many injured after Russia launches massive attack on Kyiv

According to the Chinese foreign ministry, the sanctions entail freezing the companies’ assets in China and banning individuals and organisations from accessing them.

Beijing

China sanctions 20 American companies over arms sales to Taiwan

Somalia reacted angrily Friday (December 26) after Israel formally recognised the northern region of Somaliland as an "independent and sovereign state" -- the first country to do so. U.S. President Donald Trump said he opposed U.S. recognition of Somaliland in an interview with the New York Post.

Somaliland

Somalia denounces Israeli recognition of Somaliland

Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an "immediate" ceasefire on Saturday (December 26), the two countries said in a joint statement, pledging to end border clashes that killed dozens of people.

Buri Ram

Thailand and Cambodia agree to ceasefire

Somaliland, a territory of more than 3 million people in the Horn of Africa, seceded from Somalia more than three decades ago, but it hadn't internationally been recognized as an independent state by any country.

Israel becomes first country to recognize Somaliland

Some of the stabbed victims remain in serious condition. A 38-year-old man was arrested for alleged attempted murder at the factory, authorities said.

Mishima

At least 15 injured in chemical attack, stabbing at Japan factory

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he was shocked by the "horrific killing spree" and pledged Israel would reinforce its security.

Jerusalem

Palestinian man kills two in car, knife attack in northern Israel

Munitions factories are expected to expand capacity and build new plants as the regime in Pyongyang intensifies weapons development and furthers its ties with Russia.

Pyongyang

Kim Jong-un orders North Korea to boost missile production in 2026

The United States launched airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria's Sokoto State on Thursday. Nigerian authorities denied Trump's claim of mass killings of Christians amid mixed reactions to the U.S. intervention.

Abuja

Nigeria confirms cooperation with U.S. strikes on IS targets

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday (December 26) he planned to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump soon and that a lot could be decided before the New Year as Washington pushes diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia.

Zelenskiy: 'A lot' can be decided before New Year ahead of Trump talk

The United States carried out airstrikes against ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria's government, U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. military said on Thursday, claiming the group had been targeting Christians in the region.

U.S. launches 'deadly' airstrikes in Nigeria targeting ISIS: Trump

Official results show Asfura edged out his main rival Salvador Nasralla by less than one percentage point. Marred by delays and fraud claims, the Honduran election continues Latin America's shift to the right.

Tegucigalpa

Honduras: Trump ally Nasry Asfura wins disputed presidency

Several people were killed in Southern California when severe storms with heavy rain caused mudslides and flooding, which was made worse in areas affected by wildfires in January.

Breakdown